Apparatus for treating metals.



- Patented mar. 4, |902. G. c. cAnsoN.

A APPARATUS FUR TBEATLNG METALS.

(No Model.)

(Application tiled Apt. 12, 1901-) I T l u Il llllmllll TH: cams #Erikscn., PucroL'l-mn., wAsNmaToN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIOE.

GEORGE o. oAEsON, OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING METALS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 694,348, dated March 4,1902.

Application led April l2, 1901.

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. CARSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Redding, in the county of Shastarand State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forTreating Metals, of which the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to the treatment of metals, either to reduce themto a molten condition or to refine metals and mattes already molten.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple apparatus ofa portable nature which will enable the conversion and refining ofmetals to be carried on Without expensive plants, and so, for instance,to put the making of malleable iron and steel and the refilling ofcopper and other mattes within the reach of people of limited means,such as the owners of small foundries or smelting plants.

My invention comprises a novel construction of blowpipe for introducinginto the metal the jets, streams, or currents of steam, air, gases, orvapors of any kind for melting, or for producing chemical changes inmolten metal.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a general view of such ablowpipe supported in operative relation to a receptacle containingmolten metal. Fig. '2 is a section of the holder for the carbon tube.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showingr a modification of the same.Fig. et is a cross-section of the same at a; Fig. 3, looking upwardly.

The receptacle A, lined with refractory material a, is illustrative ofmanydifferent kinds of hearths, crucibles, melting-pots, pits, andreceptacles generally in which scrap or other forms of metal can bemelted or in which previously molten metal can be treated.

B represents a hose which leads to any suitable supply from which thecurrent for reducing or for oxidizing is derived. This hose is coupledto a pipe C, having a right-angled turn, as shown, or, ifdesired, suchpipe can be formed into a coil insteadof an angle, so as to provide someadditional heating-surface, which can derive heat from the recep- SerialNo. 55,481. (No model.) I

tacle below. Aoock D regulates the current. Upon the end of the pipe Cis threaded the sleeve F, made, preferably, of iron and provided with aninternal screw-thread f. Engaging with this thread is an expansivebushing G, made of metal having greater expansion than that of theexternal sleeve, such as brass, and having one or more incisions g, andhaving also a head I, by which the bushing may be turned. This expansivebushing is the holder for the blowpipe or jet H, which is preferably ahollow tube of hard carbon, projecting from the holder down into thecontents of the metal receptacle. When the head I is turned to screw inthe bushing, it compresses a ring or washer J, of asbestos or othersuitable material, between itself and the end of the sleeve F, whichmakes a tight joint. The carbon-jet pipe is of sufficient diameter toprovide for a central bore for the passage of the current. I prefer .toterminate this bore short of the end ofthe carbon and then provide twoor more intersecting passages k k for discharging the current side-Wise. The bore may, however, continue through to the end, if desired. InFigs. 3 and 4 a sleeve M, of metal, is inserted in the hollowcarbon,terminating short of the end of the bore therein, and is splitand lapped, so that it can expand without affecting the carbon.

In operation the carbon jet is inserted into the metal and the red ucing-current or oxidizing-current is forced under pressure through thehose. I prefer to use a simple adjustable support N for the apparatusand with a single receptacle can employ one, two, or as many of myblowpipes as may be required. By a reducing-current of hydrocarbon vapora melting heat can be obtained in the receptacle for melting scrap,the., or for raising the temperature of metal previously melted. Anoxidizing-current of air or steam is used .to expel impurities in themolten metal and in transforming cast-iron into malleable iron or steel.The carbon jet is peculiarly adapted to the purpose on account of its'exceedingly refractory nature and slight range of expansion.

The carbon-holder shown is very simple in construction, and thereplacing of carbon IOO bon havingan internal sleeve split andlapped,and forming a reinforcement for said carbon.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses, this 25th day of March, 1901.

` GEO. o. CARSON.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, F. M. BURT.

